Scottish Maritime Museum: Irvine

A a great place to learn about the history of Scotland's maritime heritage. The museum has a variety of exhibits that explore the different aspects of maritime life, from shipbuilding and seafaring to fishing and trade.

What to see

The museum is housed in the impressive Linthouse Engine Shop, a Victorian glass-roofed building that was once part of a bustling shipyard. Inside, you'll find a vast collection of boats, engines, tools, and artefacts that tell the story of Scotland's shipbuilding and seafaring heritage. The museum also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions that showcase different aspects of Scotland's maritime heritage.

Ships and boats

One of the highlights of the museum is the collection of historic vessels, such as MV Spartan, Scotland’s last Scottish-built puffer, the harbour tug Garnock, and SY Carola, a steam yacht built in 1898. In addition to the boats, the museum also houses a variety of interactive exhibits that allow visitors to learn about different aspects of maritime life, such as navigation, shipbuilding, and fishing.

Family fun

Enjoy family-friendly interactive games and trails which change seasonally, or the activity trail, a fun, interactive and educational way to explore the museum.

You can also visit the museum’s other site, the Scottish Maritime Museum: Dumbarton, which showcases Scotland’s shipbuilding history and is home to the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank.